Sport

Vaughan: Strikers did not get enough goals, so they had to go

NON LEAGUE: TILBURY boss Paul Vaughan has defended his decision to release his two top scorers this campaign, after saying they “still didn’t score enough goals.”

The Dockers boss made the decision to drop 10-goal Danny Francis and six-goal Lee Weemes last week after an indifferent patch of form for the front men.

Francis had only scored one goal in his last 13 games whilst Weemes had only notched three outfield goals in his 27 appearances for the Chadfields team.

Vaughan said he expected his strikers to score 40 goals a season between them and has looked to new 6ft 2in frontman Harrison Tweddell to add to the threat already posed by Donovan Simmonds and Piers Wixon.

Tweddell comes very highly rated from the Dagenham & Redbridge U-21 side while Simmonds has played for Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League.

Vaughan said: “I felt it was the time for change. “Weemes and Francis were good lads, but looking at their stats and what we were paying I expected a higher goal return.

“I wanted to look in another direction and I have to look at my budget.

“Tweddell will prove a good signing for us I am sure. “He has been banging them in for fun in the U-21s and trained with us last week. “He has a slight quad problem but all in all should be joining the first-team very soon.”

Vaughan has also brought in former Dockers winger Greg Cohen and exciting midfielder Mitchell Gilbey, who put in a man-of-the-match display against Burnham Ramblers on his debut last week.

“We are really pleased to have signed Mitchell. Three or four clubs were after him so I hope he will have a big say come the end of the season.”

Vaughan also bemoaned the poor weather that has seen his side fail to play this year. Tuesday night’s clash with Witham Town was also off due to the weather. He said the broken up schedule has taken the edge off the competitive nature of the league.

“It affects the players’ motivation. “We haven’t played at home since mid December and the fixture list is getting very messy. “The games are building up thick and fast and we need to be ready for them,” he added. Tilbury travel to Cheshunt on Saturday.